Winding machine



July 22, 1941 E. J. ABBOTT ETAL 2,249,735

WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1938 Patented July 22, 1941 WINDING MACHINE Edward J. Abbott and Winthrop L. Perry, Wilton, N. H., assignors to Abbott Machine Company, Wilton, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire application February 2s, 193s, serial No. 193,006

20 Claims. (Cl

rThis invention relates to winding machines and more particularly to the construction of spindles 4and the spindle-held rotary winding element, such as a package core or a sleeve or the like rotary element interposed between the vention is especially useful in connection with 5 1 automatic traveling spindle winders, for example those disclosed in United States Reissue Patent No. 18,310 and in pending United States patent application, Serial No. 726,524, iiled May 19, 1934, now Patent No. 2,177,763.

In winding machines generally, and in automatic traveling spindle winders particularly, it is desirable to prevent the package from turning in an unwinding direction while in its inactive or raised position, because such turning tends to unwind the yarn, and may cause a snarl, and in automatic winders also may interfere with the subsequent end-iinding and uniting operations. In the development of this invention it has been discovered that the inevitable vibration of a winding machine is transmitted to those spindles which are in a raised or inactive position in such manner as to cause them to react on their rotary winding elements (cores or rotary coreholding sleeves) in such a way as to tend to rotate their packages. When this tendency to rotate happens to cause a rotation in the winding direction, little inconvenience follows, but more often a considerable number of inactive packages i will rotate in the unwindingdirection, unless some ratchet or similar means is provided to stop such rotation, and in fact in some machines having usual spindle constructions most of the inactive packages turn in the unwinding direction.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a spindle construction which can be applied to winding machines to prevent the reverse turning of the inactive packages due to vibration, but which will leave the packages freely rotatable in a reverse direction for the usual manual or automatic end-finding operations. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplied mechanism for detachyshown as conical.

ably holding the package core upon a rotary sleeve or the like` associated with the spindle.

Other objects of invention and features of novelty and utility will be apparent from this specification and its drawing wherein the invention is Yexplained by way of example.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section and partly broken away of a winding package core, its spindle and associated Darts, and the spindleholding arm and support therefor, the parts for convenience being shown in the active or winding position, but with the package driving roll omitted for clarity of illustration;

Figs. 2 and 3 are similar fragmentary views showing the application of the invention to modified forms of winding package cores;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig, l, a spindle II is carried by a spindle-supporting arm I2, whichv is pivotally connected at I3 to a part I4 of the winding unit, in such manner that the spindle and arm can be moved about the pivot I3 from the active winding position shown to a raised inactive position. The winding unit may for example be one of the winding units of the' reissue patent mentioned above, the units being arranged for travel from right to left.

The spindle element I l extends into a generally cylindrical spindle base element Ila, and also through a hole in the arm I2. A single set-screw I5 threaded into the spindle base element I IBl and pressing against the end of the arm I2 interlocks all vof these parts, thus providing a Very convenient mode of assem-bly and rigid holding of the spindle, its base, and the arm I2.

In the form of invention of Fig. 1, the spindle is surrounded by a rotary winding element in the form of a metal sleeve I6 having outer sleeve portions Ita and IE5b adapted to fit within the axial bore of a Winding package core I8, herein Suitable means preferably in the form of resilient elements 3I associated with the Vsleeve I6, and more fully described below, serve to grip the inside of the core I8, so that during winding the sleeve I6 turns with the core.

Now with the construction of winding unit, spindle and core-holding sleeve just described, il

kthe sleeve IB were supported to turn in the usual position. According to the present invention, however, this tendency is counteracted by providing a bearing within which the sleeve turns by contact with an internal or concave surface, that is to say, by providing an external bearing for the sleeve. With the sleeve mounted at one place on an internal bearing and at another place in an external bearing, the effects of vibration as applied to the sleeve by these bearings appear to neutralize each other. Thus instead of rotating in the unwinding direction, the sleeve does not rotate appreciably when in the inactive position. Obviously in this situation, in which in a particular machine the tendency to turn in an unwinding direction is cured by utilizing an external bearing to create a countervailing tendency, the external bearing can be made large enough to overbalance the effect of the internal bearing and cause the core to turn slightly in a winding direction. Where such tendency to turn in a winding direction is not considered disadvantageous, the sleeve can obviously be mounted altogether in external bearings. However, the widest applicability of the invention is attained by employing one internal bearing and one external bearing so proportioned that their effects on the sleeve substantially neutralize each other and vibration neither turns the sleeve in the unwinding direction nor the winding direction.

A preferred construction of the external bearing for the sleeve I6 is shown in Fig. 1 as comprising a cup-shaped portion 20 of the spindle base IIa, containing within it a wooden or fiber bushing 2i concentric with the spindle I I and which embraces the end portion of the sleeve I6. The crore I8 is suitably recessed at 22 to receive this cup-shaped portion 20 and bushing. A suitable washer 23 may be interposed between the end face of the sleeve I6 and the end of the recess which defines the cup-shaped portion 2I'I.

A suitable internal bearing for the other or outer end of the sleeve IS may for example comprise the external surface of the spindle II, the sleeve I6 carrying within it a wooden or liber bushing 24 which turns on spindle II adjacent to the outer end of the spindle. Throughout the remainder of the length of the spindle, the sleeve I6 has clearance from the spindle. A headed screw 25 and washer 26 may be used to retain the sleeve IB on the spindle.

Obviously, as suggested above, the relative lengths ofthe external and internal bearings for the sleeve I6 may be varied so as to compensate for vibration effects tending to produce rotation, of the sleeve I6 and core I8, or when appropriate, the sleeve may be mounted so that substantially all ofthe bearing surface on which the sleeve runs bears the external relation to it in the manner of the bushing 2 I.

In lthe embodiments of Figs. 2 and 3, in which the reference characters corresponding to those of Fig. `l denote similar parts, the rotary winding element whose bearings are dealt with by this invention is the winding core itself, the sleeve of Fig. l being omitted. Fig. 2 shows a cylindrical flanged wooden core I8a, and Fig. 3 a cylindrical plain wooden core IBb. YThe cores I8a and I8'D each have a central axial bore of sucient diameter to clear the spindle II, except at a place adjacent to the outer end of the core where the bore is of reduced diameter so as to provide a surface 24a having an easy running fit with the spindle II.

The end face of the core adjacent to the spin` dle base is provided with an annular recess 22 of which the inner or convex surface 21 is concentric with the spindle and has an easy running t with the inner cylindrical surface of the cupshaped portion 2i) of the spindle base.

The cores Isa and I8b can be retained on their spindles by any suitable latch, for example the pivoted latch shown at 29. Although the ele ment II has been referred to above as the spindie, it will be apparent that in the illustrated embodiments of the invention the element designated by I Ia is also a part of what would be most conveniently termed a spindle, in the sense that it participates in rotatably supporting the rotary winding element. Accordingly, in certain of the broader claims below, the term spindle is used in a comprehensive manner to mean the support for the rotary winding element such as the sleeve I6 of Fig. l or the cores I8a or Ib of Figs. 2 and 3.

In addition, while the element IIa has been shown as a separate element from the element II, to permit the easy construction and assembly of the device, thisseparability is not essential in the broader aspect of the invention, and numerous advantages of the invention would be retained if elements II and IIEL were integral.

Moreover, while this specification and certain of its claims refer to an external bearing for the rotary winding element, this expression external bearing is not to be limited to a bearing which is altogether outside of the largest diameter of the rotary element as illustrated in Fig. 1, in the case of the rotary sleevey I and bushing 2I, for as will be observed from Figs. 2 and 3 the external bearing exemplified by the element 2li in those figures can operate according to the same principle outside of a reduced-diameter portion of the rotary element without being totally outside the rotary element.

A further advantageous feature of the invention is the improved construction of parts for holding a core I8 on a sleeve such as sleeve I6, illustrated by way of example in Figs. 1 and 4. As indicated above, the sleeve I6, which extends practically the full length 'of the core I8, is surrounded by the axially spaced outer sleeve portions Iiia and lb, which are preferably fast thereon. In the space between these spaced sleeves, it is preferred to insert resilient core-holding elements herein indicated by the reference numeral 3|. These resilient elements are T-shaped in plan, and positioned in alternately reversed relation so that the heads of the T-shaped elements serve to space them around the periphery of the sleeve I6. The ends of the outer sleeve portions IIL and IID are undercut so as to overhang atV 32a and 32b to receive the end portions of the resilient elements, so that the two outer sleeve portions I 6a and I6b serve to retain all of the resilient core-holding elements 3|.

Whereas the end portions of the core-holding elements 3l are held in against the sleeve I6 by the overhanging portions 32a and 32h, these elements 3| are bowed outwardly except at their ends, and in the form of construction shown are provided with outwardly curved middle.,portions in the nature of humps 3| a. These humps together `form a discontinuous peripheral enlargement adapted to be received within an enlarged-diameter portion 33 of the bore of the package core. In slipping the core onto the sleeve, the elements 3| yield inwardly suillciently to permit the core to slide over them, until the enlarged-diameter portion 33 arrives at the bumped portions 3|. It will be apparent that both in applying Ythe core. to the sleeve and removing it therefrom,

there is no possibility of any projecting part jamming against or injuring the core. Moreover, the ends of the T-shaped resilient elements are securely protected by the overhanging portions 32a and 32h, which define oppositely directed annular recesses Yinto which the ends of the T-shaped elements extend. These resilient elements 3| are not positively xed at either end but are slightly loose endwise, to allow the necessary endwise extension of the elements 3| as they are compressed inwardly by a core. The heads or laterally projecting portions of the T-shaped elements are curved to conform generally to the circumference of the sleeve I6, and the whole series of T-shaped elements is free to turn around the sleeve I6, when no core is on the sleeve. However, when a core is on the sleeve and is gripped by the resilient elements 3|, these T- shaped elements 3| and particularly their head portions bear snugly against the sleeve I6 so that the core I8 is firmly fastened to the sleeve and the sleeve and core rotate together as a unit.

It will be apparent that the novel construction of core-holding elements can be applied to various types of textile spindles and to various types of cores.

We claim:

1. In a winding machine, a spindle for holding a rotary winding element, movable means for supporting the spindle alternatively in a winding position and in an inactive position, the spindle having one portion which denes an internal bearing and another portion which denes an external bearing for the rotary winding element, said internal bearing being of convex shape and said external bearing being of concave shape and the rotary winding element having surface portions rotatably fitting and turning in frictional contact with said bearings, whereby to minimize rotation of the winding element while the spindle is in the inactive position.

2. In a winding machine, a spindle for holding a rotary winding element, a movable spindle support engaging one end of the spindle for supporting the spindle alternatively in a winding position and in an inactive position, the spindle having adjacent to its outer end a portion which defines an internal bearing for the rotary winding element and having adjacent to the spindle support a portion which defines an external bearing for said winding element, said internal bearing being of convex shape and said external bearing being of concave shape and the rotary winding element having surface portions rotatably tting and turning in frictional contact with said bearings.

3. In a winding machine, a spindle for holding a rotary winding element, movable means for supporting the spindle alternatively in a winding position and in an inactive position, the spindle including a portion which defines an external bearing for the rotary winding element, said external bearing being of concave shape and said rotary winding element having a surface portic-n rotatably fitting and turning in frictional contact with said bearing.

4. In a winding machine, a spindle for holding a rotary winding element, a movable spindle support engaging one end of the spindle for supporting the spindle alternatively in a winding position and in an inactive position, the spindle having adjacent to the spindle support a portion Vwhich denes an external. bearing for the rotary winding element, said external bearing being of concave shape and said rotary winding element having a surface portion rotatably iitting and turning in frictional contact with said bearing.

5. In a winding machine, a spindle, a rotary sleeve on the spindle adapted to hold a textile package core, `a bushing interposed between the spindle and sleeve adjacent to one end of the sleeve, a second bushing surrounding the sleeve adjacent to the other end thereof, and means associated with the spindle for holding said second bushing.

6. In a winding machine, a spindle, a spindle base surrounding one end of the spindle, the

spindle base being recessed, a rotary sleeve on the spindle adapted to hold a textile package core, the sleeve extending into the recess in the spindle base, and a bushing within said recess providing an external bearing for the sleeve.

7. In a winding machine, a spindle, a rotary sleeve on the spindle adapted to hold a textile package core, and bearing means providing an external bearing for the rotary sleeve on the spindle, said external bearing being of concave shape and the rotary sleeve 'having a surface portion rotatably fitting and turning in frictional contact with said bearing. Y

8. In a winding machine, a spindle, a package corev thereon, and bearing means for the package core comprising a concave bearing surface concentric with the spindle, the package core having a concentric convex surface portion rotatably fitting and running in frictional contact with saidk concave bearing surface.

9. In a winding machine, a spindle, a rotary package core thereon, the core having a bore of substantiallyy larger diameter than the spindle except adjacent to one end and ythere havinga bore vcorresponding to the spindle diameter so that the spindle surface constitutes a bearing for said end of the core, the face of the opposite end of the core having an annular recess therein providing an axially concentric vconvex surface, and bearing means associated with the spindle having an axially concentric concave surface, the said convex surface of the core rotatably fitting and turning in frictional contact with the said concave surface of the lbearing means.

10. In a winding machine, a spindle, a rotary sleeve on the spindle, bearings rotatably mounting the sleeve on the spindle, the sleeve running inside of one and outside of the other of said bearings and having surface portions which t and turn in frictional contact with said bearings, and means associated with the sleeve for gripping a package core so that the sleeve partakes of the rotation of the core in winding, whereby when the winding is suspended the vibration of the spindle is prevented from imparting idle rotation to the package core.

11. In a winding machine, a spindle, a rotary sleeve on the spindle, bearings rotatably mounting the sleeve on the spindle, the sleeve running inside of one and outside of the other of said bearings and having surface portions which ft and turn in frictional contact with said bearings, and a plurality of resilient elements carried by the sleeve and adapted frictionally to engage the interior of a package core to fasten the sleeve rotatably thereto.

12. A core holder for textile machines comprising a central member and axially spaced overhanging portions associated with said central member so as to denne oppositely directed recesses adjacent to the periphery of said central member, and resilient core-engaging elements having their end portions seated in said recesses.

13. A core holder for textile machinesI comprising a central member and axially spaced overhanging portions associated with said central member so as to denne oppositely directed recesses adjacent to the periphery of said central member, and resilient outwardly bowed coreengaging elements having their end portions seated in said recesses.

14. A core holder for textile machines comprising a central member, a plurality of Vseparate resilient core-engaging elements, and means for retaining said elements in association with said member, the resilient elements extending generally lengthwise of the central member and having laterally extending parts serving to space them around the periphery of the central member.

15. A core holder for textile machines comprising a central member, a plurality of resilient coreengaging elements, and means for retaining said elements in association with said member, the resilient elements being of generally T shape and being disposed in alternately reversed position so that the heads of the Ts serve to space the elements around the periphery of the central member.

16. A core holder for textile machines comprising a central member, a plurality oi' resilient outwardly bowed core-engaging elements, and means for retaining said elements in association with said member, the resilient elements being of generally T shape and being disposed in alternately reversed position so that the heads of the Ts serve to space the elements around the periphery of the central member.

17. A core holder for textile machines comprising a central member, a plurality of resilient outwardly bowed core-engaging elements, and means for retaining said elements in association with said member, the resilient elements being of generally T shape and being disposed in alternately reversed position so that the heads of the yTs serve to space the elements around the periphery of the central member, the several resilient elements having humped portions adjacent to their middles, the several humped portions together forming a discontinuous peripheral enlargement adapted to be received within and hold a core.

18. A core holder for textile machines comprising a central member, a plurality. of separate resilient outwardly bowed core-engaging elements, and means for retaining the ends of said elements loosely in association with `said central member, said resilient elements having humped. portions adjacent to their middles, said humped portions together forming a discontinuous peripheral enlargement adapted -to be received within an enlarged-diameter portion of the bore of a core held by said holder.

19. A core holder for textile machines comprising a central member and axially spaced sleeve elements having end portions undercut so as to form oppositely directed annular recesses adjacent to the periphery of said central member, and resilient core-engaging elements having their end portions looselyv seated in said annular recesses.

20. In a core holder for textile machines comprising a central generally cylindrical member, a plurality of separate resilient core-engaging elements, and means for retaining said elements in association with said member, the resilient elements extendingv generally lengthwise of the central member and having laterally extending parts curved to conform to the periphery of the central member.

EDWARD J. ABBOTT. WINTHROP L. PERRY. 

